Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The United States and Iran paused military strikes for a second consecutive day, halting a two-week escalation sparked by Tehran, CNN reported.
The pause aims to revive negotiations. A 60-day interim ceasefire agreement signed by both nations in mid-June has now entered its second half. The Pentagon did not respond to questions, AP reported.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News, as reported by AP, that President Donald Trump is “giving talks some space. He’s giving it a little bit of room.”
Waltz dismissed the idea that the US stockpile of interceptors crucial in defending against Iranian attacks is running low, but experts have questioned how long both the US and Iran can afford to keep up attacks, according to AP.
An unnamed regional official involved in mediation informed AP that the diplomatic pause is a “positive signal that helps their efforts to de-escalate”.
The negotiated compromise centres on permitting Iran to operate vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz with fewer maritime restrictions. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told AP that talks with Oman regarding the safe passage of ships have made progress.
The preceding conflict caused immediate regional casualties. Iranian counterattacks targeted nations hosting American military personnel, resulting in the deaths of three US service members in Jordan and one in Iraq. Iran’s army spokesperson told state TV on Sunday that since the US halted attacks, Iran has as well, AP reported.
The volume of commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to its lowest point in three weeks, AP reported.
